Bay Area Christian Conciliation Service

Bay Area

Christian Conciliation Service, Inc.

Post Office Box 1732

Sonoma, California 95476

707-933-3011 v.

707-933-3011 f.

E-mail :CCS@bayareaccs.org

www.bayareaccs.com

Timothy J. Arensmeier, Executive Director

A Brief History of the Christian Conciliation Service (CCS)

Toward the end of 1979, a group of attorneys who were members of the Christian Legal Society were having coffee and donuts in Los Angeles. It was a weekly gathering, during which the discussion turned to the passage written down by Saint Paul in I Corinthians, chapter 6, in which believers in Jesus Christ are forbidden from suing each other.

The discussion lasted over a few weeks, covering such issues as whether or not it dealt with religious matters, matters of the 1st century A.D., or might it possibly include matters between churchmen of all persuasions Today which otherwise might go to the courts of our land.

Finally, one of the attorneys looked at a colleague across the table and said, "I think the question is this: Is it right for me to represent a client whom we both know to believe in Jesus Christ, being sued by a client of yours whom we also know by reputation to be a believer in Jesus Christ?"

The end result of that discussion was that both attorneys, in agreement with the others around the table, talked with their respective clients and counseled them to withdraw the case from the court and have it heard and ultimately decided by a neutral body of people who, like them, were committed believers in Jesus Christ.

Fortunately, that particular case was not only resolved amicably, but the parties who had been in litigation were actually "reconciled" in the process during which they were attempting to obey the passage of scripture mentioned.

The creation of the CCS, initially under the auspices of the Christian Legal Society, happened during the fall of 1979.

At that time, and at the invitation of attorneys who were members of the Christian Legal Society, Tim Arensmeier, began working with the CCS in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In the summer of 1983, the Bay Area Christian Conciliation Service, Inc., was formed, being the initial product of Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Swenson, in San Francisco, in conjunction with attorneys Reece Bader and Ruth Hedden and businessman Marco Van Nellen.

Arensmeier joined the CCS in San Francisco during November 1983, and as executive director was party to it becoming a duly constituted California corporation in December 1983, and registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation (tax-exempt) in January 1984.

During the next ten years, the CCS handled hundreds of cases not only in the San Francisco Bay Area, but also cases which were referred to the CCS from around the nation, including some international cases.

In August of 1993, Tim Arensmeier was asked to pastor a church in Madera, California, which he did for the next seven years. During that time the CCS was headed up by two attorneys and eventually a retired executive of Pac-Bell. A fire totally destroyed the home and office of the last director. While in Madera, Arensmeier functioned under the auspices of the Bay Area Christian Conciliation Service, Inc., handling an average of two cases per year.

The Arensmeiers returned to the Bay Area (Sonoma) in January 2001. Tim again started working part time with the CCS while simultaneously pastoring the Sonoma Valley Community Church (RCA).

The CCS is fully capable of functioning and receiving tax exempt gifts and contributions to assist it in the performance of its responsibilities as an Alternative Dispute Resolution service for churchmen of all persuasions. While there is a fee schedule, pro bono work is performed upon request and approval by the board of directors, therefore the need for continuing gift income.

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Web posted June 1998

Last updated: January 8, 2010

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